Cardiovascular Disease Prevention a Concern for All

Risk factors for heart disease remain a concern across the age spectrum and particularly for African-Americans, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers tracked hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol levels in 10,801 adults. Middle-aged and older adults remained at risk for heart disease due to increased incidence rates for nonoptimal cholesterol levels, hypertension, and irregular heartbeats. African-American participants over the age of 45 had higher incidence rates for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Researchers caution that risk factors for chronic disease develop at any age, thus clinicians should stress preventive measures to all age groups.